HANOI: Five Taiwanese tourists, including a child, were killed in a boat collision in Vietnam's famed Halong Bay, north of Vietnam, state media reported.
The accident happened late Wednesday when a small boat bringing the tourists back from a visit to a cave collided with a bigger vessel, the local authorities said adding that the authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
A local police official confirmed the deaths noting that three women were also among the victims..
It is noted that Halong Bay is pure art, a priceless collection of unfinished sculptures hewn from the hand of nature. In 1994 it was designated a World Heritage site. Visitors can’t help but compare the magical, mystical landscape of limestone islets to Guilin in China and Krabi in southern Thailand, but in reality Halong Bay is more spectacular.
Vietnam's maritime safety has been under scrutiny since 11 foreign tourists and their guide died in February 2011 when a boat sank in Halong Bay as they slept.
Officials said previously that water leakage resulting from human error was the most likely cause of that incident.
The boat's captain and engineer were arrested for investigation over alleged safety violations, which prompted authorities to vow a crackdown on tourist vessels at Halong Bay.
The UNESCO World Heritage site, about 160 kilometers, east of the capital Hanoi, is one of Vietnam's top tourist attractions known for its stunning limestone cliffs.
Many of the wooden-hulled Halong Bay tour boats have dining facilities and cabins for tourists to sleep in while the vessels anchor overnight.
In May 2011, 28 French tourists had a lucky escape when their boat began sinking on Halong Bay. There were no injuries.
In the Philippines, three Taiwanese including a two-year-old girl and a woman in her 70s were killed on Wednesday when a motorboat capsized at the popular resort of Boracay, a local official said. (QNA)
